Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico

The United States Congress had seated non-voting "delegates" from various territories since 1794 as the country expanded across North America; these territories were all eventually admitted as states. The position of delegate was a legislative position with a two-year term, just like a member of Congress.[5]

The United States acquired several overseas possessions as a result of the Spanish–American War. While the House of Representatives voted in 1900 for Puerto Rico to select a delegate, Congress instead devised a new form of territorial representative in the Resident Commissioner. United States Senator John Coit Spooner argued that granting a territory a delegate implied that it was on the path to statehood, which he asserted was not guaranteed for the new possessions acquired in the war, such as Puerto Rico and the Philippines.[5] In fact, more than a century later, neither has become a state. (Puerto Rico remains a U.S. territory, while The Philippines became an independent republic in 1946.)

The original Resident Commissioner positions served a two-year term,[6] though it was later extended to four years starting in 1920.[7][5][8] The position also had executive responsibility in addition to legislative ones. The term had been used as to parts of the British Empire (see Resident Commissioner), but in an almost opposite sense; sent or recognized as the Crown's representative to manage a territory. American Resident Commissioner always refers to a representative of a territory to the national government.[5]

This representation has evolved over time. At first, the resident commissioner could not even be present on the floor of the House of Representatives; floor privileges were granted in 1902.[5] In 1904, the officeholder gained the right to speak during debate and serve on the Committee on Insular Affairs, which had responsibility for the territories gained in the Spanish-American War.[5]

In 1933, Resident Commissioner Santiago Iglesias was appointed to additional committees, and each of his successors has served on other committees also.[5] But only in 1970 did the Resident Commissioner gain the right to vote in committees, gain seniority, or hold leadership positions.[5]

The present-day Resident Commissioner, like the delegates from other territories and the District of Columbia, have almost all of the rights of other House members, including being able to sponsor bills and offer amendments and motions.[5] Territorial representatives remain unable to vote on matters before the full House.

Puerto Rico's at-large congressional district
Resident Commissioner	Jenniffer Gonzalez[lower-alpha 1] R–San Juan
Area	3,515 sq mi (9,100 km2)
Population (2019)	3,193,694
Median household income	14,412
Ethnicity	80.5% Hispanic 8.5% Black 6.8% White 3.6% other 0.4% Native American 0.2% Asian
Occupation	67.9% White-collar 20.5% Blue-collar 11.6% Gray-collar

Puerto Rico is represented by a non-voting resident commissioner in the United States House of Representatives. The current resident commissioner is Jenniffer González.

   Popular Democratic Party (6)
   New Progressive Party (6)

US Party Affiliation

   Democratic Party (10)
   Republican Party (2)

№	Resident Commissioner	Party		Affiliation within U.S. politics		Years	Electoral history
1	Antonio Fernós-Isern		Popular Democratic		Democratic	September 11, 1946 – January 3, 1965	Appointed to finish Piñero's term. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1952. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1960. Retired.
2	Santiago Polanco Abreu		Popular Democratic		Democratic	January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1969	Elected in 1964. Lost re-election.
3	Jorge Luis Córdova		New Progressive		Democratic	January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1973	Elected in 1968. Lost re-election.
4	Jaime Benítez		Popular Democratic		Democratic	January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1977	Elected in 1972. Lost re-election.
5	Baltasar Corrada del Río		New Progressive		Democratic	January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1985	Elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1980. Retired to run for mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
6	Jaime Fuster		Popular Democratic		Democratic	January 3, 1985 – March 3, 1992	Elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1988. Resigned to become Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
7	Antonio Colorado		Popular Democratic		Democratic	March 4, 1992 – January 3, 1993	Appointed to finish Fuster's term. Lost re-election.
8	Carlos Romero Barceló		New Progressive		Democratic	January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2001	Elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1996. Lost re-election.
9	Aníbal Acevedo Vilá		Popular Democratic		Democratic	January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005	Elected in 2000. Retired to run for Governor of Puerto Rico.
10	Luis Fortuño		New Progressive		Republican	January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009	Elected in 2004. Retired to run for Governor of Puerto Rico.
11	Pedro Pierluisi		New Progressive		Democratic	January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2017	Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2012. Retired to run for Governor of Puerto Rico.
12	Jenniffer González		New Progressive		Republican	January 3, 2017 – present	Elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2020

• List of United States congressional districts
• Resident Commissioners from the Philippines